Fred Durst has never been one to keep things subtle, and at Limp Bizkit’s Istanbul show on August 17, the frontman literally took matters into his own hands, by swatting a fan’s drone out of the sky with his microphone.
The band was mid set at Atakoy Marina, tearing through a 14 song setlist capped by their Mission: Impossible anthem ‘Take A Look Around,’ when the flying intruder buzzed into view. Fan footage shows the drone drifting over the crowd and creeping closer to the stage. Durst, spotting it, motioned for it to come nearer. Once it was within striking distance, he swung his mic like a Louisville slugger and smacked it clean out of the air.
What Remains
The limp remains of the drone were quickly seized by security, with Durst instructing them to “get rid of it” before it was tossed back into the sea of fans. Whether it was destroyed on impact, souvenired, or returned to its unlucky operator is anyone’s guess.
The spectacle instantly went viral, with multiple fan shot clips blowing up across Reddit, TikTok, and X. In the footage, Durst barely misses a beat, turning what could’ve been an awkward interruption into one of the most metal things he’s done in years.
You can also spot it around the four minute mark on the video below:
This isn’t the first time a drone has been caught in the crossfire of live music. Back in 2022, Mike Patton of Mr. Bungle famously took a swing at one during Knotfest, though his strike never connected. Durst, on the other hand, landed his blow perfectly, making the incident feel less like a glitch in the show and more like a chapter in Limp Bizkit’s ongoing folklore.
In another off script moment, Durst also hinted that this might be the last time the Turkish government allows the band to perform in the country, though he stopped short of explaining why.
For now, the clip of Durst smashing technology has become the defining image of Limp Bizkit’s current run, a reminder that in the age of drones and livestreams, nothing beats the fun of real live music.
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